The Great White North entered the RPM Canadian album charts at #3 on 12 December 1981[3] and rose to the #1 position the following week where it remained until 23 January 1982.[4][5] Overall, RPM ranked the album #40 of albums released in Canada during 1981.[6]

The song "Take Off" (identified on the album as "the hit single section"), featured guest vocalist Geddy Lee of Rush. It was indeed a hit, peaking at number 16 on the Billboard 100 singles chart in March 1982 [8] and proved to be a higher-charting single than anything Lee has recorded with Rush.

Liam Lacey's review of the album in The Globe and Mail concluded on a negative sentiment, noting the production was "entertaining listening - about twice. Other hosers are going to find it extremely confusing."[10]